HISTORY AND POLITICAL SCIENCE

History and Political Science: American politics [Student Name] [Name of Institution]

AMERICAN POLITICS AMERICAN POLITICS James Madison was a short slim man who generally influenced others primarily by his political skills and intellect. His read many government books and was highly knowledgeable in constitutionalism. His wittiness in finding compromises made him stand out as one of the highly influential delegates during the Constitutional Convention. During his service as the member of the Virginia State assembly, he realized there were serious weaknesses in Articles of Confederation and powerful state legislatures. He therefore decided to advocate for a stronger central government. With this in mind, he helped in bringing about the 1787 Convention in Philadelphia that saw him elected the Virginia delegate to that Convention. Madison successfully helped in winning the Constitution ratification after the constitution. Madison, with his knowledge on various forms of government, blended well the principles of governance that had a profound effect on American Constitution. He noticed that small scale republics were coupled with problems due to their sizes. Also, he noticed from studies that confederated form of governance was not the best. He embarked on an alternative Constitutional design that avoided these shortcomings. This alternative Constitutional framework was introduced by Virginia delegates and named the Virginia Plan at the Convention. In his writing, he made it clear that governance administered over men by men was to be constituted in such a way that it could control itself and those whom it governs. The Virginia Plan can be said to compose of the following important features as listed below. These features paved way to the most demonstrative constitutional reforms in the history of America. 1) Two chamber legislature; a representation in each chamber based on state population.

AMERICAN POLITICS 2) Lower chamber of the legislature elected by the citizens of each state; upper chamber, executive, and courts elected by the lower house. 3) Legislature can make any law regarding any national problem. 4) Legislature can veto state legislation that it believes conflicts with national laws or with the constitution. 5) Council of Revision (composed of executive and court) can veto legislation passed by national legislature, but legislature can override by majority vote. According to the Virginia Plan, the apportioning of both houses was to be done according to the contributions of states or the numbers of inhabitants. It was obviously the just way of ensuring that equality and standard representation by all. The larger populations were obviously supported in this reasoning, though much thought also could be regarded in smaller states inclusion. This would have ensured equity and equality as larger states would have parted with some portions of power. Though this inclusion was seen by others as giving too much power to the people than expected, the people of America were more inclusive and united in decision making. The Plan supported the formation of a national executive. This national executive was to dispense a much more authoritative power than the then unicameral, feeble regime that was in existence then. The national government would wield much power effectively without states being coerced into action. Being a national issue, many people would be served inclusively and effectively. This national executive was to serve the whole country. As a national figure, the national executive gave the overall view of a democratic representation.

AMERICAN POLITICS It is common knowledge that if the states are given the power to select the senate, the system would just be flawed and democratically misguided. The senate was thus selected by members of the lower house. In doing this, both houses would have been made as independent as possible. In fact, this might have enabled the defense of the minorities much easier. Also, the enforcement of this law would have ensured that the government is put to check and does not enjoy coolness expected from the senate. The senate was seen as best suited in controlling the peoples passions and stability. It was also representing the people and protecting them against injustices, mutability and law multiplicity. Some people were against giving this opportunity to the lower house as it could not prove work friendly. In fact, some reasoned that in this selection, it would be difficult to protect the minorities from the majority demands. Still, this selection process was seen as a good way of ensuring federal harmony. Also, it could bring back the sense of states to states. On representation, there arose the question of having equal opportunities for both the larger states and the smaller states. It only brought the thought that the justice in terms of equality was unjust. This equal representation would have exaggerated the power of the minor states by giving them an opportunity to shoot down every good move by the superior states. Though valid, the claim could not be necessarily true. Given that the superior states had agreed to a concession with the minor states, most critics were not pleased. The argument was that the minority would block necessary measures and manipulate their positions in the senate. This could possibly lead to majority losing to them on major issues (Education, 2000). The powers preventing the states from actions perceived to be independent were considered. Without this, these actions could be considered inconsistent with private rights and federal duties. Therefore, the legislature was given the mandate to oversee these decisions and

AMERICAN POLITICS where possible override them with their own. Some states could have demeaned the meaning of governance and created their own decision making criterion. By simply giving the legislature these powers, the concept of separation of powers could be maintained amid good governance. Also, critics argued that the legislature could use its powers to abuse of office. In contrary, the senate was supposed to put to check the rights of the common people and other injustices they could face (Samuel Kernell, Steven S Smith, 2012). In conclusion, the United States could have been in a much better off today if the founders had simply adopted the Virginia plan proposed by Madison. It gave as much powers to the people as to the legislature and the constitution. Also, it enhanced the separation of powers and improved the sense of nationalism.

AMERICAN POLITICS Works Cited

Education, C. F. (2000). James Madison and Executive Power . Retrieved from Promoting the principles of Democracy: www.civiced.org Samuel Kernell, Steven S Smith. (2012). Principles and Practice of American Politics: Classic and Contemporary Readings.